Camera



- 1 619,108 1 1927 s. M. FAIRCHILD CAMERA Filed March 1,1923

UNITED STATES 1,619,108 PATENT OFFICE. I

smarter; 11:. ramcnnm, or NEW Yoax, n. 'Y.

\ CAMERA.

Application filed March 1, 1828. Serial No; 882,088.

This invention relates to cameras of the I class inwhich the film or plate ishoused in a detachable magazine mounted on the camera body, and is changed after each exposure by power-driven mechanism of suitable character. In the present invention the shutter also is set, for the next exposure, b power-driven mechanism, and my ch ef object is to provide simple and eifectlve means for insuring harmonious operation of the two mechanisms so that the film or plate will be chan ed after each exposure in proper time re ation to the operation of the.

shutter. To this end I rovide in association with the camera b0 y a primary driving mechanism which may be actuated by a suitable motor, this driving mechanism being connected with the shutter in such manner, asby gearing, that the two are always in time; and in association with the film or plate magazine I provide changing mechanism which is detachably connected with the primary driving mechanism by means of a two-part connecting device so constructed that when the magazine (detached for reloading 'or for any other purpose) is replaced on the camera the two parts of the connecting devicewill always re-engage in the proper cyclic relation. The new film or late is then carried through or into the eld of exposure in much the same manner as if it were, in efiect a continuation of the former film or plate.

One form of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a side view of a portion of the camera body and a portion of the magazine, with part of each broken away to show the automatically synchronizing clutch or connecting device. Fig. 2 isa plan view of the driving member of the synchronizing clutch, partly in section, about on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

A portion of the camera body is shown at 10, and a portion of the removable filmmagazine is shown at 11, the latter being raised slightly to show the clutch members disengaged. Any convenient and suitable means, not shown, may be employed to secure the magazine in position on the camera.

The primary driving mechanism, housed in the camera body 10, is indicated genercated generally by the shaft 13, which is driven b the said primary mechanism through t 1e agency of a shaft 14.

When the magazine is in operative position on the camera the two shafts 13, 14 are connected by a clutch which in the preferred form of the invention comprises the following elements or parts. On the outer or upper end of shaft 14 is a clutch disk 15 having a hub 16 provided with diametrically opposite, axial slots, one of which is shown at 17 engaged by a pin 18 extending through the shaft, so that the disk can be shifted axially but must rotate with the shaft, as

will be readily understood. A sprin 19, housed in a cup 20 carried by the sha t 14, holds the disk yieldingly in its u per osition with the top of the disk su stantially flush with the top of the camera body 10. As will be seen in Fig. 1, the slot-and-pin construction 1718 determines the possible u ward movement of the disk. The disk is a so provided with a centering stud 21 and tion, that is, the film changing mechanism and the primary driving mechanism are synchronized. If the driving stud and aperture do not engage at once, the driving disk 15 is depressed against the tension of the spring 19; Then when the disk 15 begins to rotate, the stud 22 is revolved and finally comes under the aperture 25, whereupon the disk is raised by the spring and the stud is thus shifted into the aperture. The two shafts are then in their normal relation to each other, as before. In short, driving connection between the two shafts is possible at one and only one angular relation between them, and the shaft l lwill never have to make a complete revolution before engagement occurs. In most cases the rotation of the latter shaft is intermittent, that is, it is stopped at the end of each cycle, and preferably makes one complete revolution in each cycle. Hence if the two clutch members'do not engage immediate] it will only mean that at most one more t an the usual number of blank revolutions of the shaft will have to be made before the first exposure area of the film reaches the exposure field. It will be observed that in order to permit the magazine to be positioned, that 1s, take its operative positioni1 on the camera body it is not necessary to ave the clutch mem rs lined up, which would require locking devices to lockthe two mechanisms in proper relation to each other whenever the magazine is removed or would re u1re careful lining up of the clutch mem ers before the magazine could'be placed in operative position. In my construction, however, v the magazine and camera body fit together in operative relation even though the two mechanisms are out of synchronism, but when the driving mechanism is started the driving member of the clutch automatically engages thedriven member as soon as the dr1ving mechanism has cau ht up with the driven mechanism. Hence t e operator need pay no attention to the relative position of the parts. If he removes the magazine, as for example to substitute a fresh roll of film,

.he does not have to see that when the substitution is com leted the driven member of the clutch is in the same position as when the magazine was removed. The same is 1 true if for any reason it becomes necessary to open the magazine, in the darkroom or elsewhere, before the entire roll is exposed.

flight, when intense cold and other hampering conditions are often encountered, .are obtainable without the use of automatic locks,or the like, which add complication to the apparatus.

The driving aperture 25 may be slightly larger than the stud 22, to facilitate engagement, or one or both may be slightly tapered for the same purpose. In the latter case the taper should be slight enough, or the spring 19 should be stiff enough, or both, to

prevent the driving pressure of the stud on the wall/of the aperture from camming the stud down out of engagement.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the details herein specifically described but can be embodied in other dlsk.

forms without departure from its spirit.

eration of the driving mechanism automatically establishes the proper cyclic relation between the two mechanisms when the magazine is replaced on the camera body.

.3. In a camera, in combination, a camera body, a removable magazine therefor, driving mechanism in the camera body, c mechanism associated with the magazine to be driven by the first-named mechanism, and

a releasable driving connection between said mechanisms adapted to automatically synchronize the two mechanisms after the magazine is positioned onthe camera body at any time in the cycle of operation of the camera. 4.- In a camera, in combination, a camera body, driving mechanism associated therewit a removable magazine, changin mechanism associated with the magazine, ving an actuating shaft, and an automatically synchronizing clutch releasably connecting the said shaft with the driving mechanism.

5. In a camera, in combination, a camera body, driving mechanism associated therewit havin a driving shaft, a removable magazine, c anging mechanism associated therewith, having an actuating shaft, and separable driving and driven clutch-elements carried by said shafts and adapted to automatically engage each other w1th only one angular relation between the shafts when the magazine is seated on the camera body and thedriving shaft is rotatin 6. In a camera, a releasable cfutch for operatively' connectin driving and driven parts, comprising a riving disk and a driven disk, one having a driving stud and the other an aperture to receive the stud, one of thedisks being shiftable axially toward and from the other, and a spring associated with the axially'shiftable disk to urge the same toward the other.

' 7. In a camera, a releasable clutch for operatively connecting driving and driven shafts, com rising a driven disk, a driving disk movab e axiall toward and from the other, one of said disks having a driving stud and the other an aperture to receive the stud; and a spring associated-with the driving disk to urge t e same toward the driven In a camera having and driven Harts, in combination a driving shaft, a ward and from the other disk, and a spring riven shaft, a releasahle clutch comprising associated with the axially movable disk to 10 a driving disk on the first mentioned shaft urge the same toward the disk on the driven and a driven disk on the second mentioned shaft.

shaft, the first mentioned disk having a driv- In testimony whereof I hereto aflix my siging stud and the other an aperture to receive nature. the stud, the disk on the driving shaft being capable of axial movement on said shaft to- SHERMAN M. FAIRCHILD. 

